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Eriugena, Johannes Scotus - Periphyseon - Intelligence hierarchy

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Eriugena, Johannes Scotus - Periphyseon I

the affirmation of "man" (I mean, man while still in his mortal state) is the negation of "angel," while the negation of "man" is the affirmation of "angel" [and vice versa]. For if man is a rational, mortal, risible animal, then an angel is certainly neither a rational animal nor mortal nor risible: likewise, if an angel is an essential intellectual motion about God and the causes of things, then man is certainly not an essential intellectual motion about God and the causes of things.

And the same rule is found to apply in all the celestial essences until one reaches the highest order of all. This, however, terminates [in] the highest negation [upward]; for its negation confirms the existence of no higher creature. Now, there are three orders which they call "of equal rank": the first of these are the Cherubim, Seraphim, and Thrones; the second, the Virtues, Powers, and Dominations; the third, the Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.